Customer Reviews

Kensington PocketMouse Wireless Mini Travel Mouse ( 72214 )

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

The good news is that this small, cordless mouse will definitely work out a lot better than the full-size, corded mouse I had been using with my Mac PowerBook. (Whenever possible, I prefer to use my PowerBook as a kind of pseudo-desktop computer by connecting an external keyboard and mouse.) The small size of both the mouse and the receiver will make them much easier to pack up and take along with the PowerBook when it's time to go away on vacation, and the absence of a cord is already making life a lot easier in my somewhat cramped work environment. And now that I've figured out all its quirks and gotten past all its roadblocks, this mouse is very easy to control.

The bad news is all those quirks and roadblocks.

Most of them, I can help you avoid, but there's one I can only warn you about and tell you to persevere. The first thing you gotta do is insert two AAA batteries into the mouse. The batteries are supplied -- and in my case at least, they were Energizers -- but the battery cover is very difficult to get off. All I can tell you is -- keep pressing down and forward, like the instructions say, and eventually you'll get it. You just might sweat off several pounds first.

The next issue could have been avoided if the instructions had simply told me what NOT to do. (I subsequently emailed Kensington and WAS told NOT to do it.) To connect the cordless mouse, you plug a tiny receiver into the USB port in lieu of a cord. But you MUST use a port on the computer itself. You CANNOT plug the receiver into a USB hub. If you try to, the receiver's pilot light will light up, but you won't be able to establish a link with the mouse.

(I'm not sure whether it would have worked if I'd plugged the receiver into the external keyboard that was connected directly to my PowerBook. The shape of the keyboard and the receiver made this connection physically impossible. In order to continue using the external keyboard without sacrificing the hub, I had to plug the hub into the port where the keyboard had been, then plug the keyboard into the hub. Fortunately, the keyboard DID work in conjunction with the hub.)

With the receiver properly connected, establishing the link involves simply pressing a button on the receiver, then pressing the "connect" button on the mouse. When you press the receiver button, the pilot light starts to blink. When you establish the link, the pilot light glows steadily, but flickers each time you move the mouse. The linking procedure is simple enough, except that the `connect" button is recessed into the bottom of the mouse, and thus needs a pen or some similar object to press it.

After doing all this, I still thought the mouse wasn't working properly, but to be fair, this issue WAS covered in the instructions. This optical mouse is picky about the surfaces you use it on. It turns out that the worst surface to use is a black, reflective one -- which exactly describes my computer table. After putting the mouse on a sheet of white paper, everything was fine. I have to say, though, that this was NOT an issue with the optical mouse I'd been using -- which is probably why I glossed over that part of the instructions.

Well, now I'm "cooking with gas," as my third-grade teacher used to say, but there are still two quirks I occasionally have to deal with. The first one concerns the ability to turn the mouse off to conserve the batteries, which you do by pressing the scroll wheel, then pressing the connect button while holding the scroll wheel down. The same procedure turns the mouse back on. Most of the time, this works fine, except for the need to use a pen as described earlier. But occasionally, when I turn the mouse back on, the link is broken. This problem is solved by repeating the procedure used to establish the connection initially.

The second quirk would be a problem if I didn't have a cat and a three-year-old daughter. But sometimes, one or the other of them pressed some unknown combination of keys that causes the PowerBook to refuse to respond to the mouse. This problem is solved by unplugging and reconnecting the receiver.

So if you can avoid most of the problems I ran into, you should be up and running with this mouse in no time.

This mouse is perfect for the traveling notebook user. I am a female with small hands so this fits me perfectly. With my fingers on the clicking buttons, when I rest my hand on the mouse it comes to half-way in my palm making it very comfortable to use. However, if you are male and have large hands this mouse will be quite small and difficult for you to use. The materials seem to be well built - nothing about it seems flimsy at all. I've had other mice I swore wouldn't last 2 weeks due to ultra-thin plastic.

As far as performance - I haven't had a problem. I have used it continuously for about 80 hours a week for a few months now and haven't had any problems. My only annoyance with this product is how to turn it off/on. I always forget how to reactivate it (on those traveling days) and have to bring my manual with me whereever I go. Would be nice if the website either posted their manuals for downloaded or pick a new way to turn it off/on.

Battery compartment - there have been complaints about the battery compartment. The way the manual describes for you to open the casing isn't very well. Over time and consistent use I found it much easier to simply place the mouse facing you with both thumbs right behind the Kensington name (just so you can see the letters on top of your thumbs) and gently push away from your body (or I guess you can say upwards). The casing then very easily slides off - and no risk of breaking it.

There is a manufacturing defect in this product that prevents one from opening the battery compartment. Kensington seems to be aware of the problem, since their website offers an alternative to the directions given in the manual. Neither works. My advice: pass on this.

Afer 3 months the transmitting unit died! Other cons: 1. it requires new batteries every 2 or 3 weeks, 2. not ergonomic, 3. the cover difficult to open to change the batteries. I guess you get what you paid for!

I was so excited when I first saw the mouse. Because it was wireless optical and size I liked it. Its performance sucks. I used for 1 week and the range is not event 2 feet.... I first thought the piece is defective. I went to compusa and they gave me a brand new piece. Then I decided to test the new piece in their stores only. The notebook had USB slot (same as mine) on left side and the mouse works when I kept it on left side of laptop. When I kept it on right... IT DOESN'T Work... What the use then !!! I returned it immediately.

I paid $30 at Staples because I had to use up some credits.

Most of my comments have been stated... to set up push the battery cover down as indicated and install the batteries in the correct direction. You will see a red light on bottom if installed correctly. Then plug in the receiver, hold the button on the receiver for about 5 secs, and then using a pen or paper clip press in the button on the bottom of the mouse for about 5 secs. You should see a steady light now on the receiver and your good to go.

Minor gripe - battery cover removal feels like you can break it

Major gripe - on/off requires use of a paper clip or pen and the pressing of 2 buttons - not practical, so I'll always leave on which will eat up my batteries.

I have used this model for about 6 months. And it will bankrupt me replacing batteries. It also gets confused if I try to use both the laptop touch pad and then switch back to the mouse. My logitech model V220 unit on another PC is flawless and operates on it's original battery forever.
Get the V220

It is next to impossible to open this item just to insert the batteries!

That is THE most absurd thing I've seen. What kind of ridiculous engineering is that? Must have been the same guy who designed the Spasmotica sneaker!

That engineer who designed this needs to be deported.

Extremely infuriating.

I have been using this mouse for almost 2 years now. I have not had any problem with it. It is small to carry around. I like it a lot. I will recommend it.
I give 5 stars.

It is a huge pain to replace the batteries-- the best way I have figured out is to use a butter knife and twist it between the button and the battery lid-- very frustrating any other way. Also, it doesn't connect to the USB very well- mine is very wobbly. I would not recommend this mouse.